Portuguese Pedagogue of the Escola Nova in the 1st Republic (1910-26), Military Dictatorship (1926-28) and New State (1928-1974): Joaquim Tomás (1873-1973)

Abstract

Study of a historical-documentary and/or bibliographical nature around the pedagogical figure of Joaquim Tomás, using hermeneutic methodology in the analysis and interpretation of sources (primary, secondary), complemented with interviews with a relative of his, which allowed us to historically reconstruct the life path and primary school teacher/inspector, admirer of the ideals of the New School and innovative school experiences in Europe. The hermeneutic method, indebted to the text/language and mediator in the research and interpretation of documentary sources, made us contextualize this figure of pedagogue in the socio-historical and political time in which he lived. We were guided by the following objectives: analyzing the work and actions of J. Tomás in the historical period of his life; understand in light of the time (context), the author, documentary authenticity and reliability, the nature of the argumentative interpretation related to education/teaching and modern pedagogy; identify J. Tomás within the ideas of the Escola Nova movement; value this pedagogical figure for the History of Education. In this rescue of individual memory for the collective in the field of Education, we wanted to deepen J. Tomás' contributions to the History of Education in Portugal and, mainly, his didactic-pedagogical aspect of primary education.